Ubisoft explains why Assassin's Creed launches last on PC

Lead designer Jean-Sebastien Decant says PC versions of franchise entries are last to be worked on internally.

Ubisoft has explained why Assassin's Creed games have historically launched on PC several weeks, and in some cases months, after the console versions come to market.

Speaking with Polygon, lead designer Jean-Sebastien Decant said the reason is because the PC version of each game is simply the last version the development team works on.

This will again be the case for Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag. Ubisoft confirmed this week that the pirate-themed action game will hit PC on November 19, almost three weeks after its initial debut for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii U on October 29. The Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions arrive as launch titles for those platforms in November.

Decant said at the onset of development, Ubisoft will focus on one "master version" and concentrate its efforts on this version before moving to other iterations. The PC version comes last, he said.

"It all depends on what is the master version," Decant said. "If for instance, the [Xbox 360] version was the master version, or the PlayStation 3 version was the master version, then we'd need a little bit more time to adapt it for the PC. But we need to finish that other version first."

As a result of the PC version being the last to be completed, Decant said the development team often needs a few additional weeks to implement final tweaks to assure a polished experience.

In the case of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, the current-generation versions for Xbox 360 and PS3 were the "master" versions, Decant said.

"The technology goal we had [for ACIV] was for the current-gen," Decant said, noting development shifted to Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC thereafter. "You need to finish one and make sure that it's clean before you can then finish the others."

If the PC version always comes later and they know this, then why do they always set an earlier release date and push it back? It's frustrating. Just admit that it will be out a month later and stop moving the 'goalposts'.

Also I would like a justification why the European Wii U Assassin's Creed IV version is delayed by three weeks. If it's ready in October for America why isn't it ready for us? I'm not angry just puzzled.

Scenario A: They just need time to develop absurd DRM and encourage piracy.

Scenario B: They got the conecept of versioning wrong, you're supposed to develop the most powerful version first and then dumb down for the less powerful systems (or create less powerful versions of the software). The theory behind this is that it's easier to strip what you already have than forcefully build into it potentially screwing with the already established code.

I think they ensure it works as intended on the lowest spec platform. Then when it's time to concentrate on the higher spec versions they just slap on some higher res textures and other graphical bells and whistles.

When PS3 and XBOX 360 came out most of the early titles were PS2/XBOX games at heart with higher res graphics. They were not designed from the ground up to take advantage of the new hardware. That is why early days on a new console are so annoying because they want to push their game out on as many platforms as possible so your new hardware isn't being used in a meaningful way.

That is also why PC fans dislike consoles as games are not being designed to utilise the more powerful hardware their PC has.

When a game initial "benchmark" set for next-gen. It will be
difficult/costly to release along with current gen. This because
next-gen can support more then twice of polygon and texture size then
current gen. It will be pain in the as* for developer to reduce/change all their texture / poly / physics / shaders / coding / and animation to look nice in current gen.

I think another reason is, when Black Flag in
beginning development next gen dev SDK still not available
for developer thus they not taking the risk.

Finally is market issues, if the game set to release on PS4/XboxOne only. The sell will be very low since the machine is still very new and not much people really own it.

I find it kind of dumb for Ubisoft to release 2 games on the same day for PC. Watchdogs and AC IV come out the same day on PC now. Sounds like most people will be choosing one or the other on day 1 unless they have the cash for both.

1) They began development with current-gen systems in mind, not next-gen

2) They prioritise console releases over the PC release (this was already pretty obvious, but they just confirmed it)

In other words,
the article says more about their game engine technology than it does
about the reason for PC release delays.

But it is interesting to note
that next-gen systems were not their initial goal - what you should
really be worrying about is whether this means their next-gen
technologies will be badly implemented or if they shifted focus early
enough in development to do a good job of it.

I really don't care when I get it on PC, as long as it is not a year later, or worst case scenario, not at all! There are plenty of other great games hitting shelves around the same period, so I really don't mind waiting.

Bullshit - they want the console versions out earlier as the generation of today have no idea what it means to wait for something.

They exploit that and continually fuel it knowing full well that the idiot of today will pick up the title again later on his/her preferred system should that system be PC.

As gamers the generation between the younger and older, more mature gamer has never been wider. Where the younger audience will happily open its purse for iteration 100 of the same franchise the elder, more discernible gamer will wait for the sales or ditch the entire series completely.

Everything this guy is saying is BS. It's plain and simple why Ubisoft games often come out a tad later for PCs: So they can add their Uplay DRM.

I have to hand it to Ubi, despite this. They do better with PC than most publishers, but seeing uplay overlay messages pop up in addition to steam overlay? It's just too much. We don't need publisher specific achievements and hubs. It's just silly.

@sujith12 The AC games have been sketchy at best on PC since the first game, and made worse by Ubisofts DRM. AC3 certainly wasnt without its issues on PC either let alone the game being a disapointment.